School of Nursing

Duquesne University's School of Nursing, now celebrating its 75th Anniversary, has a long history of innovation. It was the first in Pennsylvania to grant the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (1937) and the first in the nation to offer an online Ph.D. program in nursing (1997). It is one of only three schools in the state designated as a "Center of Excellence in Nursing Education" by the National League for Nursing.

The School prepares students to become professionals who meet the dynamic health care needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Faculty facilitate education in the art and science of nursing, promoting ethical, holistic, culturally competent, and population-based care in collaboration with a variety of health care systems.

The School particularly seeks to meet the needs of its increasing enrollment through a more diverse faculty, the majority of whom hold a doctoral degree; substantial expansion of clinical learning facilities to provide richer learning opportunities for a growing student body; and greater availability of financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students.

NAMING OF THE SCHOOL

Over the course of 75 years, the School of Nursing has transformed the lives of its 4,800 students and their countless patients. A naming endowment, in turn, will transform the School by providing perpetual funding for new initiatives exponentially expanding its regional, national and global impact.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

Duquesne's founding Spiritans fervently believed that the benefits of education should be available to all, regardless of the ability to pay. Providing educational access is especially important in nursing, as the profession faces a shortage of skilled practitioners. Increasing funds for academic and need-based scholarships and need-based aid will allow the School to extend its commitment while recruiting the most talented and competitive students. Donors may establish their own named funds or augment existing ones. A special focus is the Eileen H. Zungolo Endowed Scholarship Fund, honoring the school's current dean, who will retire this year. Her decade of leadership has been marked by major improvements in the School's programs and reputation.

EDUCATION AND CLINICAL TECHNOLOGY

Laboratory simulation technology plays a pivotal role in the integration of classroom and clinical education, better preparing students for experience with real clients in real practice settings. The School has acquired several advanced mannequins in recent years, but more equipment is needed to enhance the learning experience while accommodating rapidly growing enrollment.

FACULTY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS

Duquesne University expects that its faculty members will be both excellent teachers and diligent scholars. This teacher-scholar model is especially important in a field such as nursing, where inquiry is key to keeping academic programs at the leading edge.

Sixty-eight percent of all Duquesne nursing faculty members hold doctorate degrees, well above the national average of 50 percent. Yet only 28 percent of the full-time faculty are tenured. An additional 40 percent of full-time instructors are on the tenure track, requiring additional support for increased research output.

Faculty development funds can support assistants and stipends, helping young faculty to successfully balance teaching and research and allowing the School to attract, cultivate and retain the larger, more diverse faculty its increasing enrollment requires.

PROGRAMMATIC OPPORTUNITIES

Center for Nursing Research: The Center for Nursing Research (CNR) facilitates faculty and student development and promotes research and scholarly productivity.

The CNR is dedicated to creating an environment in the School of Nursing that is conducive to research, scholarship, and the advancement of nursing science. It supports both qualitative and quantitative methodologies with a particular emphasis on health disparities, chronic deviations from health, and cultural competence. Endowments are needed for the director's position, a part-time grants editor, statistician and support staff.

Distance Education Programs: The faculty of the School of Nursing have been pioneers in the development and use of online education for graduate studies in nursing. Recognizing the unique population of nursing, comprised predominantly of women who had significant family responsibilities, the idea of a program of study which was convenient and readily accessible was very attractive.

Educational technology for online learning is changing rapidly, and to date, Duquesne's School of Nursing has been a leader in the field. The School remains committed to using educational technology effectively, thus enriching student learning and enhancing teaching. The School seeks an endowment for continuing faculty development for online teaching.

This fund would facilitate faculty collaboration with instructional designers and train teachers to work with diverse learners, while keeping Duquesne at the forefront of advancing technology. It would also strengthen Duquesne's foundation for continued leadership in online education, supporting the design and implementation of policies and practices addressing workload; faculty hiring; new faculty roles; rewards and incentives; peer review; intellectual property and academic integrity.

UNRESTRICTED GIFTS

Unrestricted gifts to the Dean's Discretionary Fund allow the School to allocate resources to its most critical needs and to respond more rapidly to unanticipated opportunities.